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Cops Hunt Two Men Suspected of Robbing 15 Queens Businesses

By Aidan Gardiner | January 21, 2013 11:57am

QUEENS — Cops might finally have a break in a string of 15 armed robberies spanning several months in Southern and Eastern Queens in which the prolific crooks may have stolen up to $20,000.

Investigators are looking to identify a woman spotted using a credit card that was stolen Jan. 15 during an armed robbery of Great Big Supermarket, at 222-16 144 Ave., near the Belt Parkway, in Brookville.

It's not clear where or when the woman — who sported a winter hat that looks like an animal's head — used the card.

During that robbery in which the card was stolen, the suspect entered the supermarket about 6:30 p.m., flashed a gun, demanded money and other property, cops said. When the victim complied, the thief fled. No one was injured. 

The supermarket stick-up was the 11th of 15 robberies by two men between Nov. 29 through Jan. 20, cops said.

During the spree, they allegedly hit small businesses like bodegas, gas stations, 99-cent stores, and pharmacies.

In each incident, one or both of the men entered the business, showed a gun, and robbed people inside, cops said.

On Dec. 15, two suspects entered Total Wireless, at 134-07 230 St., near Francis Lewis Boulevard, in Cambria Heights, and demanded everyone inside lie on the floor, cops said. One suspect emptied the store's cash registers while the other robbed a customer. Both fled down 230th Street.

Most recently, the suspects hit two gas stations on Sunday Jan. 20 about 40 minutes apart, cops said.

In that case, the men entered the Merrick Mobile Gas Station, at 228-20 Merrick Blvd., in Laurelton, and flashed two guns, one black and one silver, cops said. One of them emptied the cash register and they fled the scene.

Then about 40 minutes later, they entered the Hillside Mobile Gas Station, at 165-01 Hillside Ave.—approximately 4 miles away in Jamaica Estates—and again demanded money by gunpoint, cops said. A clerk then emptied the store's cash into two bags.

During the heists, the suspects may have stolen as much as $20,000 along with cellphones and credit cards from their victims, cops said.

One suspect wore a black jacket, black beanie, dark jeans, blue gloves and a black face mask, according to surveillance photos police released.

The other wore a black jacket, a black hoodie, blue jeans, and a dark face mask.

One of the suspects was also spotted wearing gold-rimmed glasses.

The woman who used one of the credit cards they stole has red hair and a slender build, and was spotted wearing a green jacket, a white hat resembling an animal's head, and a pink messenger bag.

It's unclear how she is connected to the two  men, but she's not believed to have actively participated in any of the stick-ups.

Anyone with information about the incidents should submit a tip at NYPD Crime Stoppers or call 800-577-TIPS.